Parker to receive new home from Homes for Our Troops
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RONAN — A little less than three years ago a happy ending to the story of Marine Lance Cpl. Tomy Parker’s life was a long shot. On Dec. 10, 2010, Parker stepped on an improvised explosive device while on patrol in Afghanistan.
He survived the blast and his right leg was amputated just above the knee and his left was amputated at the hip. He also lost four fingers on his left hand.
Parker endured more than two dozen surgeries and rehabilitation. He returned home in 2011, but had to stay at the Best Western KwaTaqNuk Resort for a time because his parents’ home was not wheelchair accessible. After local community members raised more than $70,000, an addition was added to the home so Parker would have a place to live.
The home was still not completely accessible for Parker, mother Lisa Corbett explained. His wheelchair still hit corners and shredded doorframes. Parker also became engaged to Amanda Hout, who has two small daughters, Eva and Olivia. The pair wanted to start a life together, but finding a home that was completely accessible was an issue.
“If he wants to make the little girls dinner, it’s like a four-foot person trying to reach into a six-foot cabinet,” Corbett said.
By summertime Parker will be able to cook dinner for his family, and more — thanks to nonprofit Homes for Our Troops.
Since 2004 the organization has built more than 146 homes for veterans who returned seriously injured in post-September 11, 2001 conflict. Parker’s home is one of 36 that are under construction and will be the second one built by the organization in Montana.
The homes, constructed from two standard blueprints, are designed with low countertops and stovetops, roll-in showers, and other features meant to be completely wheelchair-accessible.
“I’m just excited for him to be able to get around and live his everyday life easier,” Hout said. “Right now, where we live, it’s not accessible to him at all. Every single day it’s hard for him to get around and do simple things that we take for granted. It’ll be just awesome for him to just be able to live. More than anything, I don’t care what the house is, as long as it’s good for him.”
The two-bathroom, four-bedroom ranch-style home will be set on 10 acres in the Polson countryside, where Eva and Olivia will have plenty of room to play outside.
“To get this house is awesome because it takes a lot of stress off my shoulders and off the shoulders of my family,” Parker said. “We have a place that’s adapted and for us to do it ourselves it would have been something we maybe got when we were 50, because it just takes that much. But we get it when we are 24, and we have the opportunity for our daughters to grow up in the same house and for us to grow old together in the same house. It’s a tremendous opportunity Homes for Our Troops has afforded my family.”
The Parker family’s happy ever after in their forever home will begin at a groundbreaking ceremony on Nov. 23 at 10 a.m. The public is invited, and there will be a potluck fundraiser the previous night on Nov. 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Terrace Lake Community Church. The funds raised will go directly to paying for Parker’s home,
Homes for Our Troops spokesperson Ashley Twigg said.
“We like to take every donation and every dollar and put it toward the houses,” Twigg said.
Skilled labor will provide the bulk of the construction, because the modifications make it difficult for volunteer laypeople to complete the specially modified design of the house. There will be a day mid-way through where volunteers can help with landscaping, Twigg said.
The completion of the project is always moving.
“It’s really exciting,” Twigg said. “Words can’t really describe. It’s definitely a rewarding experience. I can’t think of more deserving people than the people we build for.”
Esther Gunlock, Parker’s friend and Magazines for Troops organizer, agreed that the home was deserved.
“It’s so nice they are going to do this,” Gunlock said. “I was telling someone the other day that Tomy could probably live in a box and as long as he had those girls, he’d be happy.”
